Knee-acl support breeches system and method

ABSTRACT

A system and method of knee-ACL support breeches for supporting the knees against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, without interfering in desired movement, by resisting anterior translation of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing stress on the ACL and other knee components. A pair of calibrated-elastic bands are attached at one end to a belt about the waist and at the other end to a strap around each lower knee. The calibrated-elastic bands are incorporated into a pair of breeches or pants which hold the bands tightly against the buttocks and backs of the thighs. In use, when the knee is flexed, the resulting bulging of the hamstrings and other muscles, tendons, and ligaments place an added strain on the relevant calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening the band and dampening and resisting anterior movement of the attached lower-knee strap, in turn dampening and resisting anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components. The knee-ACL support breeches also promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, and larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration, both of which positions reduce strain placed on the ACL.

BACKGROUND

This invention is a knee-ACL support breeches system and method for supporting the knees against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, without interfering in desired movement.

ACL injury has an annual incidence of more than 200,000 cases, with approximately 100,000 of these injured knees reconstructed annually. The majority of ACL injuries (approximately 70%) occur while playing agility sports, and the most often reported sports are basketball, soccer, skiing, and American football. An estimated 70% of ACL injuries are sustained through non-contact mechanisms, while the remaining 30% result from direct contact. Between the years 2010 and 2013, 219 NFL players suffered ACL injuries. While injuries suffered during games remained stable over those four seasons, ACL tears increased in the off-season and during practices.

In a sixteen-year sample of fifteen sports across a college age group, approximately 5000 ACL injuries were reported over the sixteen years, producing an average of 313 injuries per year in the sample. In a study of 187 competitive non-professional athletes, 66% were playing sports two years after ACL surgery. Only 41% were playing sports at their pre-injury levels, and 25% were playing a lower level.

ACL injuries occur to a higher percentage of female athletes than male athletes, for reasons that are being studied.

After sustaining one ACL injury, risk of subsequent ACL injury in either the graft or the other leg increases substantially, from 1 in 3,000 to 1 in 50. MRI's on done on 111 participants one year after ACL surgery revealed that nearly a third of them (31%) already had evidence of osteoarthritis damage in the repaired knee.

The ACL participates in 86% of the total resistance to anterior translation of the knee joint. In tests on twenty-seven cadavers, the breakpoint load an ACL could handle was 2160N±157 N, which equates to roughly 450-515 pounds. In an isolated test, ‘Single-leg landing from running to a stop’ caused a 1294N (290 lbs) force to the ACL; between the angles of 25-30 degrees of knee flexion. Greater ACL loading occurs at lower knee flexion angles (10° to 50°), with peak loading occurring between 10 to 30 degrees of knee flexion. For both types of exercises, ACL loading progressively decreases from approximately 30 to 60 degrees of knee flexion, with no ACL loading occurring at knee flexion angles beyond 60 degrees.

Knee bracing may not improve functional performance of subjects 5 months after ACL reconstruction. The use of such a brace could actually slow down running and turning. Although some studies in the literature are in favor of the use of a postoperative brace after ACL reconstruction, several systematic reviews and other reports on the topic do not support the use of a postoperative brace after ACL reconstruction. Postoperative bracing after ACL reconstruction does not seem to help pain, function, rehabilitation, and stability.

Constant and heavy muscle use is needed to participate and excel in dynamic sports. The force generated to create locomotion at competitive speeds requires maximum effort. A greater force is needed in order in to influence a change in direction of an object. The force generated by the decelerating muscles will accordingly need to be greater than its antagonist accelerating counterparts to achieve high level agility and cutting maneuvers.

The level and frequency at which athletes train may not allow sufficient recovery time at the physiological level. For example, inflammation, cramping, temperature, muscle tension, lack of metabolic substrates can all increase neuromuscular fatigue or create tetanus—the prolonged contraction of a muscle caused by rapidly repeated stimuli.

There is therefore a need for a system and method which can resist anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components, particularly when the knee is at a low or middle flexion angle.

Athlete-training programs attempt to alter dynamic loading of the tibiofemoral joint through neuromuscular and proprioceptive training. They emphasize proper landing and cutting techniques, including landing softly on the forefoot and rolling back to the rearfoot, engaging knee and hip flexion and, where possible, landing on two feet. Athletes are trained to avoid excessive dynamic valgus of the knee and to focus on the “knee over toe position” when cutting.

There is therefore a further need for a system and method which also promotes the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, greater knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration, and the other elements of the neuromuscular and proprioceptive training.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,947 was issued to Inventors Timothy P. Dicker and William T. Wilkerson on Jan. 12, 1999 for an “Energy Expenditure/Training Garment.” The garment includes various elastic resistance elements located on the garment so as to help in the training of a user while participating in a swinging sport, such as golf or racquet sports. The garment could also include a biofeedback sensor to indicate when a proper swing has or has not been performed. In particular, the exercise garment includes a shirt having a body portion, with each arm section extending to at least a wrist portion, and a pants portion with leg sections. An elongated longitudinal resistance band is anchored about the wrist portion of one of the arms, and extends spirally around the body portion of the shirt and the pants section, terminating at one of the legs. The elongated resistance band also extends around the hip and loops around the torso upwards around the back and over the shoulders, and then down one of the arms.

U.S. Publication No. 2005/0255975, published on Nov. 17, 2005 by Gerald Horn et al., discloses a “Resistance Fitness Suit.” The fitness system includes a suit, a fixation system, and attachment locations on the fixation system. The attachment locations are located at the neck, shoulders, chest, waist, and knees. The fitness system also includes bands that are attached to the attachment points on the upper and lower torso. The upper torso band traverses behind the neck or posterior shoulders to the front waist to engage the rear deltoid, the upper back, and the lower back. The upper torso band may also traverse under the armpit to the rear waist to engage the front deltoid, the chest, and the abdominals. The lower torso band traverses the rear waist over the front of each thigh to below the knee to engage the gluteus, the hamstring, and the flexion of the upper leg, or under the high to below the knee to engage the quadriceps and the extension of the upper leg.

U.S. Publication No. 2016/0183606 was published on Jun. 30, 2016 by McCullough Shriver, and discloses “Resistance Exercise Clothing.” The publication discusses use of a method and apparatus for exercising a muscle in a given agonist and antagonist muscle pair of a user's human body by providing an elongated elastic band having a first length when no external forces are applied thereto; elongating the elastic band to a second length that is greater than the first length; and securing the elastic band to a garment in a manner whereby when the elastic band is installed on the garment, an axial force is imposed on the body of the user and the elastic band is disposed in aligned proximate relationship with at least one of the muscles of the above-referenced pair of muscles.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,917, issued on May 5, 1998 to Timothy P. Dicker and William T. Wilkerson, covers a second “Energy Expenditure Garment.” The aerobic resistance garment is meant for indoor or warm weather use, and includes a shorts section with elongated resistance elements, including a shoulder-anchoring structure extending upwardly from the waist area of the shorts section for fitting over the user's shoulders. The legs of the shorts terminate above the calves of the user. In particular, the garment may include a resistance band with a pectoral/arm resistance panel and an abdominal spinal resistance panel, as well as a quads or hamstring resistance band. The leg terminates in a portion that joins the hamstring panels to form a tension ring. The arrangement was developed, in part, to increase resistance because of the added abdominal/rector and quad/hamstring short panels.

U.S. Publication No. 2015/0306441, published by Franklin Yao on Oct. 29, 2015 and assigned to New York University, discloses an “Exercise Garment with Ergonomic and Modifiable Resistance Bands.” The garment generates resistance against body movement, which can be used during exercise, everyday activities, or rehabilitation therapy. The garment includes bands providing resistance against the movement of an associated limb, and includes a structure to secure the garment to a user during activity. Specifically, the garment comprises (1) a base material and (2) a resistance segment affixed to the base material by an affixation system, wherein the resistance segment comprises (A) a first resistance band and (B) a second resistance band, and wherein the first resistance band and the second resistance band are opposed.

U.S. Publication No. 2010/0037369 was published by Andreas B. Reichert on Feb. 18, 2010, and discloses a “Muscle Support Garment and Method.” The garment and method is used for applying compressive forces to muscles within a treatment area. A band of stretchable wrap material is secured to the garment and is wound in an overlapping spiral manner on the inside of the garment, encircling the treatment area. The band of wrap material is longitudinally adjustable to vary its tension and the compressive forces applied, from external of the garment. Overlapping loop retainer structures secured inside the garment slidably entertain and retain the wrap material in an overlapping manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,928, issued Dec. 7, 1993 to Inventors Raymond J. Barile et al. and assignee Brace International, covers a “Rehabilitation Device.” The device includes a short pant with both a drawstring and cinches designed to cinch the leg portions tightly. Hook and pile fastening halves are disposed at various areas in the front and back of the pant, and two elongated straps having hook and pile fastening halves on their ends are attached at one end to side seams of the pant. Through manipulation of these straps, as well as auxiliary straps forming a part of the invention, the user may provide proper support for their musculature to facilitate rehabilitation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,970, which issued Feb. 13, 2001 to Inventors Takako Fujii et al. and assignee Wacoal Corp., covers a “Protective Clothing for Regions of Lower Limb.” The invention provides a leg protection garment that is effective for mainly supporting the hamstrings, the muscle of the posterior side of the femoral region among the leg portion. The leg protection garment has a lower half of the body part which has a leg portion of length capable of covering at least the patella region, and is formed of stretchable fabric. The garment further has a portion with a partially strong straining force, comprising at least a portion having a string straining force, which ranges from an area above the trochanter major to the vicinity of the upper end of the tibia by way of the trochanter major, and further the vicinity over the boundary between the musculus biceps femoris and the tractus iliotibialis, so as to support the musculus biceps femoris. The portion obliquely crosses the vicinity of the tendon region located below the muscle belly of the musculus biceps femoris without crossing the muscle belly of the musculus biceps femoris.

There is accordingly a need in the art for a system and method which can resist anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components, particularly when the knee is at a low or middle flexion angle, as well as for a system and method that promotes the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, greater knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration, and the other elements of the neuromuscular and proprioceptive training.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a system and method of knee-ACL support breeches for supporting the knees against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, without interfering in desired movement, by resisting anterior translation of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing stress on the ACL and other knee components. A pair of calibrated-elastic bands are attached at one end to a belt about the waist and at the other end to a strap around each lower knee. The calibrated-elastic bands are incorporated into a pair of breeches or pants which hold the bands tightly against the buttocks and backs of the thighs. When the knee is flexed, the resulting bulging of the hamstrings and other muscles, tendons, and ligaments place an added strain on the relevant calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening the band and dampening and resisting anterior movement of the attached lower-knee strap, in turn dampening and resisting anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components. The knee-ACL support breeches also promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, and larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration, both of which positions reduce strain placed on the ACL.

This knee-ACL support breeches system and method fills the need for a system and method which can resist anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components, particularly when the knee is at a low or middle flexion angle, and the need for a system and method which also promotes the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, and larger knee-flexion-angle positions, both of which positions reduce strain placed on the ACL.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a posterior perspective view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

FIG. 5 is a posterior view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

FIG. 6 is a right-side view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use; and

FIG. 7 is a left-side view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and all of the figures generally, the knee-ACL support breeches 10 of the invention are shown.

A belt attached to the top opening of a pair of breeches 6 provides an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete. The belt should be made of a material having little or no stretch, and should be fitted closely to the athlete's waist and hips. Buckles, snaps, hook-and-loop, or other such known fasteners can be provided to facilitate the wearing and the fitting of the belt.

Attached to the belt 1 are two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left calibrated-elastic band 2 and right calibrated-elastic band 3, corresponding to the legs of the athlete wearing the breeches. Each calibrated-elastic band is attached at an upper end to the belt 1, at locations on the belt corresponding to the athletes back, at the hips and above the buttocks.

The lower ends of the calibrated-elastic bands are attached to lower-knee straps, designated left lower-knee strap 4 and right lower-knee strap 5. Each lower-knee strap encircles the lower portion of the athlete's knee, which is the portion encompassing the proximal end of the tibia where it meets the distal end of the femur in the knee joint. Non-contact injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee are primarily caused by the anterior translation, or the slipping forward, of the top of the tibia in relation to the bottom of the femur, straining the ACL, which is attached to both bones. The position of the lower-knee strap 4, 5 is meant to provide a location upon which to apply dampening or resisting force to counter such anterior translation of the tibia. The lower-knee straps 4, 5 should be made of a material having little or no stretch, and should be fitted closely to the athlete's lower knee. Buckles, snaps, hook-and-loop, or other such known fasteners can be provided to facilitate the wearing and the fitting of the lower-knee straps 4, 5.

Each lower-knee strap 4, 5 is attached to the lower end of the corresponding calibrated-elastic band 2, 3, and also to the corresponding lower opening of the pair of breeches 6.

The breeches 6 hold the calibrated-elastic bands 2, 3 tightly and in conformation to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete. The calibrated-elastic bands can be placed on the inside or the outside of the breeches, or into a sleeve sewn into the breeches. Attachment of the bands to the breeches by a method such as sewing helps prevent the bands from moving and loosening.

The length of the calibrated-elastic bands 2, 3 should be essentially the same length as the body surface between the belt 1 and the lower-knee straps 4, 5 at the attachment points to each. Adjustment of the width of the calibrated-elastic bands 4, 5 might be a consideration in calibration, depending upon the material and method of construction chosen. Prototype embodiments of the invention using strips of rubber similar to an automobile-tire inner tube, approximately ⅛″ (3 mm) thick and from 2″ to 3″ (50-75 mm) wide were shown to be effective.

Each calibrated-elastic band 2, 3 is made of a material having a controlled amount of stretch in the long dimension, which runs from the belt 1 to the lower-knee straps 4, 5. The desired amount of stretch is one that will offer a slight amount of resistance to normal operation of the knee, which provides a benefit in training or encouraging the athlete to use the knee properly, but without so much resistance as to interfere with movement and use of the leg and knee. The desired amount of stretch is also one that has a hard limit calibrated to exhibit essentially no stretch at the point where anterior translation of the tibia and injury to the ACL would occur. The calibrated-elastic bands 2, 3 can be made of one continuous length of elastic material or of joined pieces of material having different elastic properties.

In use, with the athlete's knee not flexed but extended, the calibrated-elastic band 2, 3 will pull slightly between the essentially anchored belt 1 and the lower-knee strap 4, 5, resulting in a slight pulling upward and backward of the lower knee. Such slight pulling is not enough to restrict movement, but can be beneficial in training, conditioning, or otherwise urging the proper positioning of the leg when beginning flexion of the knee.

Upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon the calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening the calibrated-elastic band, and transferring an added strain to the lower-knee band, which applies an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia. This increased pulling of the lower knee is also beneficial in training or conditioning for the reasons disclosed above. If too much strain is threatened to be placed on the ACL because of too little angle of flexion of the knee or because of a non-neutral rotation of the knee or similar causes, the hard limit on the elasticity of the calibrated-elastic band 2, 3 is reached, and the force tending to cause an anterior translation of the tibia and resulting strain upon the ACL is countered, dampened, and resisted by the knee-ACL support breeches 10.

Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A knee-ACL support breeches system for supporting the knees of an athlete against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the knee-ACL support breeches comprising: (i) a belt adapted to provide an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete; (ii) two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left and right, each attached at an upper end to said belt, with a long dimension running generally perpendicular to said belt, adapted in length to closely fit and conform to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete to the location of the posterior portion of the proximal end of the tibia in the posterior lower portion of the knee joint, and adapted in elasticity to exert a slight restraining pressure and a limited amount of stretch in the long dimension; (iii) two lower-knee straps, designated left and right, each attached to a lower end of a said calibrated-elastic band, adapted to closely encircle the lower portion of the knee joint and the proximal end of the tibia; and (iv) a pair of breeches attached at an upper end to said belt and attached at each lower end to said left and right lower-knee straps, and in contact with said two calibrated-elastic bands such that said bands are held closely and tightly to the back of the athlete's thighs; where, in use, upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon said calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening said calibrated-elastic band, transferring an added strain to said lower-knee strap, and applying an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia, where said added strain operates to dampen and resist anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia, thereby supporting and reducing strain upon the ACL.
 2. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position.
 3. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration.
 4. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a strip of rubber approximately one-eighth of an inch, or three millimeters, thick, and from two to three inches, or fifty to seventy-five millimeters, wide.
 5. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting joined to a length of elastic material.
 6. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said belt further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.
 7. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said lower-knee strap further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.
 8. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands.
 9. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands by stitching.
 10. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands along the entire length of said calibrated-elastic bands.
 11. A knee-ACL support breeches method for supporting the knees of an athlete against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the knee-ACL support breeches method comprising: (i) providing to the athlete knee-ACL support breeches, comprising: (a) a belt adapted to provide an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete; (b) two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left and right, each attached at an upper end to said belt, with a long dimension running generally perpendicular to said belt, adapted in length to closely fit and conform to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete to the location of the posterior portion of the proximal end of the tibia in the posterior lower portion of the knee joint, and adapted in elasticity to exert a slight restraining pressure and a limited amount of stretch in the long dimension; (c) two lower-knee straps, designated left and right, each attached to a lower end of a said calibrated-elastic band, adapted to closely encircle the lower portion of the knee joint and the proximal end of the tibia; and (d) a pair of breeches attached at an upper end to said belt and attached at each lower end to said left and right lower-knee straps, and in contact with said two calibrated-elastic bands such that said bands are held closely and tightly to the back of the athlete's thighs; where, in use, upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon said calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening said calibrated-elastic band, transferring an added strain to said lower-knee strap, and applying an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia, where said added strain operates to dampen and resist anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia, thereby supporting and reducing strain upon the ACL; (ii) training and conditioning the athlete in proper flexion and neutral rotation of the knee using the added strain applied to the lower knee and upper tibia by said knee-ACL support breeches; and (iii) preventing injury to the ACL of the athlete by dampening and restraining forces tending toward anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia by said knee-ACL support breeches.
 12. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position.
 13. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration.
 14. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a strip of rubber approximately one-eighth of an inch, or three millimeters, thick, and from two to three inches, or fifty to seventy-five millimeters, wide.
 15. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting joined to a length of elastic material.
 16. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said belt further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.
 17. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said lower-knee strap further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.
 18. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands.
 19. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands by stitching.
 20. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands along the entire length of said calibrated-elastic bands. 